We asked some of the top wedding professionals on the North Coast to put together a beautiful bridal shoot that would inspire brides-to-be who are planning their big day. Just look at what they came up with…
IT’S IN THE PLANNING
From deciding on the right colour scheme to choosing the flowers and working out the order of events, finding the right wedding planner to help execute your dream wedding is priceless! The award-winning team from Oh Happy Day helped us create this elegant, creative bridal shoot using their combined expertise of floral designs, stylists and décor specialists and highly skilled wedding planners. Founded in 2014 by Joelene Botha, OHD is a top name in the bridal industry, having been awarded the Top Wedding Planner award at the Top Vendor Wedding Awards in Cape Town as well as Best Wedding Concept award and are listed one of the top 10 Wedding Planning Companies in Wedding Album Magazine. In terms of current wedding trends Joelene says, “this year has brought with it a whole new approach to wedding styling, which as a wedding design business, allows us even more scope to push creative boundaries.”
Joelene on this season’s trends
Colours: Blush pink is still a huge trend as a base colour for design (as is greenery) but both tones are slowly fading out to make way for more neutral aesthetics this year. We predict an emergence of nude colour palettes paired with bolder shades of mustard, rust or eggplant.
Florals: Couples are investing more in their floral budget, recognising the huge impact that florals make on their wedding day. There has been a resurgence of brightly coloured, full-floral prettiness as opposed to foliage with touches of white. In instances where greenery and foliage are used as a filler, there is more emphasis on dried leaves and pampas grass. Floral artistry is becoming a thing – with the introduction of painting stems or restructuring petals to create different looks in an arrangement. Couples want environmentally-friendly options like foam free arrangements, and florals that can be repurposed from the ceremony to the reception. Our favourite flowers for 2019: orchids, dahlias, anthuriums, chrysanthemums and of course, peonies and roses.
Tablescapes: Expect to see more ornate napery and tablecloths in cottons, silks and velvets in nude tones and deeper jewel tones as opposed to blush pinks and burgundy runners. Rust and mustard are also huge tones right now. Branches and dried leaves add depth and texture to hanging installations and statement glassware and cutlery is still a big deal. You’re going to see less rose gold accents in tablescape designs this year and more matt black paired with traditional gold and silver pieces. Classic tablescapes are coming back, with classic finishes that simply don’t ‘date’ like king’s cutlery and crystal-cut glassware paired with ornate glass chargers and gorgeous full-floral arrangements taking centre stage.
Oh Happy Day’s do’s and don’ts . . .
- Don’t budget for florals and décor at the end of your wedding planning. Make this a priority at the start of your wedding planning journey.
- Do your research before you settle on a supplier. Ask for references of their previous work and ask for client referrals.
- Do be as specific as possible and give as much information as you can when you are researching for quotes. Give your suppliers with reference pictures as well so that they can advise you on costs.
- Don’t get sucked into Pinterest and Instagram. Both platforms are an amazing source of inspiration but can also become very overwhelming if you don’t set boundaries for yourself. Our advice is not to start a mood board until at least six months before the wedding. Trends change, and new ideas come up and, as your designers, it’s very difficult to go through 600 images on your board and work out which ones are relevant, and which are not. Keep your ideas simple (five images per topic).
BEAUTIFULLY MADE UP
This is without a doubt the one day when every woman wants to look her absolute best. Entrusting someone with the task of doing your hair and makeup for the day is a big deal and you need to be comfortable with and confident about the person you choose. One makeup artist and hair stylist who needs little introduction on the North Coast is Juliet Martin. Based in SA and Switzerland, Juliet has been in the industry for more than ten years and has worked on photoshoots, television and fashion shows and, of course, weddings. And she is passionate about what she does. “It can be stressful getting an entire wedding party ready in a few hours, especially when the bridesmaids keep crying their makeup off,” she laughs. Juliet is also part of the Nixon makeup agency and owns her own jewellery and accessory range called The Bejewelled Collection.
Juliet on this season’s trends:
The latest makeup trends have two directions – from natural, glowing makeup to very contoured, heavy makeup. Consider your own personal style and you’ll know what type of makeup you should lean towards. Megan Markel made a statement when she rocked a natural bridal look, which has now become very popular. On the other side of the coin, heavy, contoured foundation, highlighted skin and smokey eyes in different shades are also popular – think the ‘Kardashian’ look! On the hair front, styles change all the time, from fabulous Victoria Secret curls to chignon buns, it’s such a personal choice. The style of your dress does help determine your hairstyle, but most women know if an up or down style suits them more. Details: Juliet Martin: www.julietmartin.co.za / @julietmartin.mua / @madeupbyjulietmartin
Juliet’s do’s and don’ts . . .
Do choose a bridal makeup style that suits you – not just because it’s in fashion.
Do choose your hair to suit your face.
Do have a hair trial and a makeup trial with your stylist and artist.
Do have a hair treatment the same week as your wedding.
Do secure your veil with extra clips!
Do pack a touch up make up case in case you cry some of your makeup off!
Don’t wear a bold lip colour is you’re not used to is. You might regret it.
Don’t cut a fringe for your wedding if you’re not used to one!
Don’t have a facial few days before your wedding in case you break out.
Don’t get a good friend who is not a professional to do your hair or makeup.
Don’t cut your hair too short if you’re going for an up-style.
Don’t buy straight fake hair extensions if you want curls in your hair.
THE DRESS
Many women believe their wedding gown is the most important item of clothing they will ever wear. Which is why choosing the right style and the right designer can be a little daunting. We asked bridal gown designer Tayla Hamilton of Hamilton Bridal to create a simple, elegant dress for this shoot. Tayla has been designing wedding dresses for three years and says she fell in love with making gowns after a friend begged her to make her ‘dream dress’. For this shoot Tayla consulted with professional stylist, Ty Gormely, who helped style and conceptualise this shoot. “Ty and I discussed a few ideas that would work well with the overall mood. I designed this dress for the non-traditional bride, using the most incredible embroidered lace featuring a repeat circular pattern. This type of fabric is very on trend this season and different from normal floral laces and embroidery.” The dress is easy-to-wear, classic and elegant, while still making a statement.
Tayla’s top trend
This year wedding gowns are moving away from tradition and we are going to see more colourful embroidery and mixing up of fabric and textures.
THE CAKE
Château Gâteaux’s signature Mozart cake worked perfectly in the chic, elegant and slightly rustic setting. With layers of soft meringue and tree nuts, hazelnut praline cream and topped with fine chocolate shavings, the Mozart cream gateaux is ideal for special occasions. We used the 24cm chocolate Mozart as the base and the smaller, 18cm Mozart on top. Once secured the cake was adorned with a few beautiful flowers from the shoot and ready to go in minutes!
LASTING images
When the last piece of cake has been eaten and the flowers have fallen to the ground, the only thing you really have left at the end of your special day is the memories. It is quite important then, to ensure you have chosen the right photographer to be the capturer of these memories, which you will treasure for a lifetime. Husband and wife team Chris and Emily Allan of PeppermintPix Photography have been taking wedding photographs for almost 10 years and are passionate about capturing real moments that really show off all the creativity and love that went into each unique wedding. “We love doing creative shoots like this and work with amazing, talented people. Weddings design and décor has just gone to the next level with painted flowers and black cutlery! I love it,” says Emily
Top photography tip: Don’t pick your wedding photographer from the internet based on their website. Set up a coffee or a Skype call and chat to them face-to-face. You are going to spend the whole day with them and you need to make sure they are going to make you feel relaxed and actually enjoy having your photo taken – as well as produce photos that you will love forever.
Choose The place:
With so many beautiful locations to choose from on the North Coast it was hard to pick the right one for this particular shoot. In the end though, we chose an exquisite hidden gem, called The Place in Salt Rock. A tranquil space situated inside an indigenous nursery, The Place is perfect for pop-up shops and markets, creative workshops and intimate weddings and events (for between 20 and 80 guests). It features a stainless steel and glass paned room, surrounded by trees and offers an eclectic, rustic vibe.
Bridal shoot DIRECTORY
Photography: Emily and Chris Allan: PeppermintPix Photography / www.peppermintpix.co.za / [email protected] / 073 244 8854
Concept design and flowers: Oh Happy Day: www.ohhappyday.co.za / [email protected] / Instagram: @ohhappydaydbn
Dress: Tayla Hamilton: [email protected] / Instagram: Hamilton_clothing / Facebook: Hamilton Clothing
Stylist: Ty Gormely: I’m Styling / www.imstyling.co.za / 084 622 2112
Cake: Château Gâteaux Patisserie: Ballito Lifestyle Centre and Gateway Theatre of Shopping / www.chateaugateaux.co.za
Tablescape décor: The Wedding Table / www.theweddingtable.co.za / [email protected]
Naprey: Two Fold Interior Apparel / www.twofoldinterior.co.za / [email protected]
Stationery: The Little Things ZA / [email protected] / www.instagram.com/thelittlethings_za
White chairs and matt and wicker chairs: House of Hudson / www.houseofhudson.co.za / [email protected]
Shoot location: The Place, Claremont Farm, Sheffield Beach Road, Umhlali. Michelle Sykes: 083 775 8537 / [email protected]
Jewellery: The Bejewelled Collection: www.thebejewelledcollection.co.za / @thebejewelledcollection
Hair and Makeup: Tia Botha, Nixon Makeup: @tiabothaa @nixonmakeup / [email protected]
Model: Afroz Bux, Boss Models Durban, [email protected] / 079 995 9189
